Pretoria: A high-impact government inspection blitz at the Mooi River Toll Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal has placed the road freight and logistics sector under scrutiny, exposing immigration breaches, unsafe transport practices, and suspected human trafficking.
According to South African Government News Agency, the operation was led by Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza, and Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa. It was part of the inspection and enforcement services multidisciplinary blitz programme. The initiative brought together labour inspectors, immigration officials, transport authorities, and law-enforcement agencies to test compliance.
Sibiya, in a post on social media platform X, stated that the operation yielded significant results. 'The operation closed both N3 North and South bound, a number of illegal immigrants driving without work permits were arrested, and in a turn of events, some drivers opted to use the R103. Our agile team identified them, and our operation moved to R103, where we arrested two drivers trafficking some Malawian citizens who have since been taken to a place of safety for processing for deportation,' he wrote.
The inspection comes amid tensions in the trucking industry, where local drivers and communities have raised concerns about undocumented foreign nationals being employed as drivers. Mooi River has previously been associated with protests linked to the sector.
In an interview with the SABC, Nzuza expressed that the operation, targeting undocumented foreign nationals working in the trucking industry, made a substantial number of arrests, although figures were not yet finalised. He noted that the operation helped the government understand the problem 'on the ground,' especially in areas where complaints had been made about undocumented foreign nationals driving trucks.
Nzuza emphasized that some individuals entered South Africa as visitors and later took up work in domestic and cross-border trucking. He pointed out that these individuals are employed by truck owners who are not adhering to the law by employing people illegally in the country. 'We want to send a very clear message to employers that we are now targeting employers. We want to cut the demand for illegal immigrant labour,' he said.
The focus extended beyond drivers to operators and employers accused of creating demand for unlawful work. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Hlengwa highlighted the importance of the joint presence of several departments, as the risks crossed institutional boundaries. 'The presence of the various government departments and entities collaborating is important across the ecosystem because it is about the pooling and sharing of resources,' he said.
Hlengwa stressed the need for public education, particularly where vulnerable people may not understand their situation. He pointed out that alleged human trafficking involving women and children identified during the blitz created risks for the state and demanded coordinated intervention. From a transport perspective, Hlengwa noted that some vehicles were allegedly being used outside the conditions of their permits, including as passenger vehicles. 'You cannot fit 10 or 12 people in the back of a truck like that, including children, and then also add cargo onto the vehicle. It is an overload, it is a risk to the vehicle, and it is a risk to other road users as well,' he said.
The blitz highlights the government's attempt to combine labour enforcement, immigration control, and road safety oversight. Its success will depend on sustained inspections, employer accountability, and protection for vulnerable people.